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Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Continental WinterContact TS830 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 90 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 95 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 91 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 85 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Continental WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 89 |
| Dry | 84 | 90 |
| Wet | 88 | 95 |
| Snow | 77 | – |
| Comfort | 80 | 91 |
| Noise | 63 | – |
| Treadwear | 59 | 85 |
| Handling | 73 | 84 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 is widely regarded as a class-leading winter tire for wet and slushy conditions, offering exceptional grip and braking performance that rivals summer tires. While it performs reliably in fresh snow, user consensus indicates a significant decline in performance and tread life after the first two seasons, with many owners reporting premature wear and increased noise levels as the tire ages.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance.
- Predictable and stable handling on dry roads.
- Strong performance in slush and fresh snow when new.
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise levels during the initial phase of ownership.
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, often failing to last beyond 15,000–20,000 km.
- Significant performance degradation in snow and ice after the first or second season.
- Development of loud humming or buzzing noises as the tire ages.
- Reports of tread deformation, wobbly blocks, or uneven wear patterns.
Observations
- Heavy vehicles, including EVs and large SUVs, appear to accelerate the rapid tread wear observed by many users.
- Users with RWD vehicles noted that while the tire is predictable, it can struggle with traction on steep inclines once the tread depth drops below 5mm.
- Drivers of performance-oriented or heavier cars reported noticeable understeer during spirited driving in dry conditions.
The Continental WinterContact TS830 is widely regarded by users as an exceptional winter tire, frequently praised for its transformative performance in deep snow, ice, and cold, wet conditions. Drivers consistently report significantly increased confidence and mobility, often noting that the tire allows standard passenger vehicles to outperform 4x4s in severe winter weather.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and braking performance on snow and ice
- Excellent grip and stability in cold, wet, and slushy conditions
- Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride quality for a winter tire
- High value-for-money ratio with impressive tread longevity
- Reliable handling and security during winter commutes
Cons
- Slightly increased noise levels compared to some summer tires (though still quiet for the category)
- Reduced performance and 'tightness' as temperatures rise above 15°C
- Premium price point compared to budget alternatives
Observations
- Users noted that switching to smaller rim sizes (e.g., 15-inch or 16-inch) for winter provided better pothole protection and handling compared to larger summer alloy setups.
- Rear-wheel-drive vehicle owners reported a dramatic improvement in winter capability, effectively eliminating the need for 4x4 vehicles in many snowy scenarios.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Continental WinterContact TS830 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 11 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS830 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Continental WinterContact TS830 scores 85 vs 59 on treadwear.
Continental WinterContact TS830 scores 91 vs 80 on comfort.
Continental WinterContact TS830 scores 84 vs 73 on handling.
Continental WinterContact TS830 scores 95 vs 88 on wet.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.